CHAPTER 14
FIRST AID AND HEALTH
In this chapter, you will learn some guidelines on
giving first aid in an emergency. You won’t be an expert
or even qualify to administer first aid. You will learn
why first aid is important and the results of properly
administered first aid. You will also learn the measures
you should take for the treatment of shock, bleeding,
burns, and fractures; methods of resuscitation; and
methods of moving injured persons.
Personal hygiene is also important, not only to you,
the individual, but to the entire ship’s company. In this
chapter, you will receive pointers for maintaining
cleanliness of the body, clothing, and bedding. You will
also learn the effects of sexually transmitted diseases.
FIRST AID—ITS PURPOSE,
LIMITATIONS, AND GENERAL RULES
Learning Objective: When you finish this chapter, you
will be able to—
Recognize the purpose, general rules, and
limitations of first aid.
First aid is the emergency care you give to sick or
injured persons until medical care is available. In
addition to knowing what to do for a victim, it’s just as
important to know what not to do.
Your knowledge of first-aid measures and their
proper application may mean the difference between
life and death, between rapid recovery and long
hospitalization, or between temporary disability and
permanent injury.
PURPOSE AND LIMITATIONS
The objectives of first aid are to save life, prevent
further injury, and limit infection. However, first aid
isn’t a substitute for proper medical treatment. Keep in
mind the objectives of first aid. Everyone in the Navy
must know when and how to apply first-aid measures
and must be prepared to give assistance to persons
injured in battle, collision, fire, and other mishaps.
In administering first aid, you have three primary
tasks:
1. Maintain breathing
2. Stop bleeding/maintain circulation
3. Prevent or treat for shock
The first step, of course, is to determine the victim’s
injuries. When you treat a victim, first consideration
usually must be given to the most serious injury. In
general, the order of treatment is to restore breathing,
stop bleeding, and treat for shock.
Work quickly, but don’t rush around frantically.
Don’t waste time looking for ready-made materials. Do
the best you can with whatever is at hand. Send for
medical help as soon as possible.
GENERAL FIRST-AID RULES
Although each case involving injury or sickness
presents its own special problems, some general rules
apply to practically all situations. Before you go on to
learn first-aid treatment for specific types of injuries,
learn with the following basic rules:
1. Keep the victim lying down; head level with the
body, until you have found out what kind of injury has
occurred and how serious it is. However, if the victim
shows one of the following difficulties, follow the rule
given for that specific problem:
a. Vomiting or bleeding about the mouth and
semiconsciousness: If the victim is in danger of
sucking in blood, vomited matter, or water,
place the victim on his or her side or back with
the head turned to one side and lower than the
feet.
14-1
If you do something once, people call it an accident. If you do it twice,
they call it coincidence. But do it a third time and you’ve just proven a
natural law.
—Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper
